Satish Kaushik: New filmmakers don’t contact me, but I want to work with them
Satish Kaushik is ecstatic about the appreciation his performance in Udta Punjab has garnered. In an exclusive interview with SpotboyE.com, the actor-director opens up about the changing face of Hindi cinema and how he wants to be a part of its evolution.
Satish Kaushik is ecstatic about the appreciation his performance in Udta Punjab has garnered. In an exclusive interview with SpotboyE.com, the actor-director opens up about the changing face of Hindi cinema and how he wants to be a part of its evolution. Read on:
Your performance in Udta Punjab has been well-appreciated...
Yes, so many people have called and congratulated me. I am very happy. Udta Punjab is a modern, dark, edgy film. I had to change my voice to suit the character -- I have used a typical Punjabi tone throughout.
How did you do that?
In Punjab, most people have a grungy voice. So, I told Abhishek (Chaubey, director of Udta Punjab) that I want to change my voice and uttered a few lines from the movie. He loved it.
Image Source: Youtube/BalajiMotionPictures
How did you bag this role?
Casting director Honey Trehan, who is a good friend, approached me for the role. While giving me the script, he told me, ‘Sir, please don’t look at what your role is, read the script in its entirety’. I loved the script and also my character (Tayaji). Come to think of it, even my role as Calendar in Mr India (1987) was not a big one. But it’s an iconic role, baat choti badi ki nahi hoti hain, it’s about relevance. Pappu Pager, my character in Deewana Mastana (1997) was not big either, but it was an important one. I have always played characters that have become very popular with the masses.
Do you think Tayaji is your best role so far?
It is one of my best. It is a well-defined character and an underplayed one at that. Pehle, in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I used to give over-the-top performances and people used to like it. But this has been different.
Image Source: staging
Apart from the voice, did you make any other suggestions as far as your character is concerned?
I insisted on Tayaji having a proper wind-up in the film. The last sequence in Goa was specially shot for that purpose. I went to Goa just for 2 hours. These little details have added to the final product. Also, I said ‘yeh jo gaaliyan hain movie main, woh toh sweet lagna chahiye, haina?’
When my character gives gaalis, I want people to enjoy them. When you abuse in typical Punjabi way, it becomes entertaining. It doesn’t look like gaali, haina?
Was there a point when you felt that the film may not release (because of its tiff with the Censor Board)?
(Laughs) Haan, but hats off to them, yaar. Everybody stuck together. They believed in the film and got it released the way it was.
You have been a part of earlier cinema, which had no abuses. You say you want to be a part of the new cinema, but the Censor Board has not been able to adapt to it. What is your take on it?
Be it filmmakers or society, everyone should change with time. Now, the lingo has changed. These days, the youngsters speak differently. Films are changing, filmmakers are changing, audience is changing. So, why not the Censor Board? Now, traditions, morality etc haina, yeh sab raha nahi jaise hamare zamane mein hota tha.
Image Source: Youtube/BalajiMotionPictures
You were missing in action for some time. Where were you?
New filmmakers don’t contact me, but I am interested in working with them. As an actor, I want them to notice me. I have read many reviews calling Udta Punjab my second innings. The fact is, I was always around, but was not offered anything much. I proved my mettle when a director like Abhishek contacted me.
Who are the younger directors whom you admire and want to work with?
When I was busy as a director, I missed out on working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra… I missed out on Aditya Chopra also once.
Image Source: Youtube/BalajiMotionPictures
Which were the films they offered you?
I was offered Delhi-6 (2009) by Rakeysh. Sanjay’s office had contacted me for Devdas (2002), but back then, I was busy as a director. Yash ji (Chopra) had personally called me for Mohabbatein (2000), but I was shooting Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain in Hyderabad and couldn’t cancel it. So, I missed out on working with some good directors.
What’s next?
I am doing Commando 2 and also Anupam Kher’s Gunday & Guddiya.
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